Lesson Plan Examples
It all started with treaty
I’ve been asked many times how the journey of Elder in the Making got started. The simple answer is curiosity. Curiosity about an acknowledgement and a date: September 22, the day that Treaty 7 was signed. It was a curiosity that would take me all across Alberta...
Social Studies: Grade 7 – Buffalo Apocalypse
The documentary, Elder in the Making, provides an introduction to the experiences of Indigenous peoples before and after contact. Episode 3: Sacred Ground and Episode 4: Apocalypse explore the significance of the land for the Blackfoot peoples in southern Alberta,...
English, Arts, Social Studies: Grade 4 – Indigenous Heroes
Throughout history there have been, and continue to be many Indigenous heroes that have not been recognized by mainstream Canadian society due to views prevalent during the 1800s-1900s. From war heroes, famous cowboys, athletes, successful writers, artists, and many...
Social Studies: Grade 4. Using Culture That Is Not Yours
Appreciation of culture can come in many different forms and there can be a line that divides appropriation and appreciation. Appropriation is when something is used for one’s own use without permission from the owner. Some people will use porcupine quills and eagle...
Social Studies: Grade 10. Residential Schools
Residential Schools were first introduced to the Canadian West in 1883, and the last Residential School closed its doors in 1996. The ubiquitous phrase, “killing the Indian in the child” has been used to describe the Canadian government’s goal in creating the...
Social Studies: Grade 4. Treaty 7 Signing
The Canadian Government had goals to settle and rule the vast area of the North-West which is now known as Western and Northern Canada. In 1874, nearly 300 recruits of the North West Mounted Police left fort Dufferin, Manitoba westward towards Southern Alberta, which...
Science: Grade 7. Traditional Indigenous Relationship with the Land & Spirituality
Indigenous ancestors can teach us many lessons about how to respectfully use the resources from the earth. Indigenous peoples have a sacred relationship with the land that is birthed out of respect and deep connection with their spirituality. Before colonization,...
Social Studies / English Language Arts: Grade 10. Colonization and it’s results on Indigenous Peoples of Canada
Starting in the late 15th century, French and British expeditions explored, colonized and fought over many places in North America. The long term result of that was colonialism - the disconnection of Native people from the land, their history, their identity and their...
English Language Arts / Social Studies: Grade 4. Where does my identity come from?
Chris, the director of Elder in the Making, is a Chinese-Canadian, who's parents immigrated to Canada from Taiwan. And although he was raised in Calgary, he did not know much about the history of this land. Let's delve deeper into the connections and similarities...
Physical Education / Social Studies: K-3. Traditional Indigenous Games
Many of the games we play today are derived from the traditional games of Indigenous People. Men and women usually played separately, and children played simplified versions of the adult games. Traditionally, there are two common types of games: games of chance and...